In the 24th chapter of Leviticus in verses 10-16 we read of a man of mixed blood. He is the son of an Israelitish woman and his father was an Egyptian. He fought with an Israelite and the Israelitish woman’s son “blasphemed the name of the LORD, and cursed”. The word blaspheme here means literally “to pierce” or to revile. The word cursed means “to declare something worthless and without any significance. This was condemned by the Third Commandment of the Decalogue (Ten Commandments).

The man guilty of this crime is put in ward until the will of the Lord is determined. The death penalty is certain due to Exodus 21:17, however the manner of execution, as well as the fact of him being a stranger, needs to be resolved.

The Lord commands the man to be brought outside the camp. The witnesses are to place their hands on his head, indicating the guilt and consequences of his act rest solely upon him and their intolerance of his crime. The people were then to stone him to death. This punishment was to be enforced with either the stranger or the Israelite.

This account in Leviticus teaches us several valuable lessons:
It teaches the importance of reverence for the name of God. The prayer which Jesus taught his apostles began with the words, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” Matthew 6:9. Hallowed means “holy, sanctified, set apart from profane things”. God’s name is the greatest. His name is above all names. When we refer to God we are not referring to just anybody, we refer to Almighty God, the One who demands our respect. As the Psalmist said, “Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.” Psalm 148:13

It is a lesson of what happens to a person spiritually today who uses the Lord’s name in a vain, profane, or blasphemous way. Physical death was the penalty for this great sin under the Old Covenant and warns of spiritual death for this great sin under the New Covenant. To not speak the name of God with reverence is a strong indication of the attitude the person holds for God in their heart. The person that does not have reverence for God has no basis for morality and no humility to bow to His will.

We need to appreciate the enormity of this sin. Many in our world need to recognize this. We find in this book and throughout the Old Testament a repeated emphasis upon the character of God. He is very concerned about maintaining a good name among men. For one to lose respect for the name of God, and lose respect for the person of God, is to lose all in this life as well as the next, unless they repent. There is nothing more important than “hallowing” the name of God.
Let our attitude in referring to God be as though we exclaim “O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:1

-Jerry D. Sturgill

In Romans 1:31, among a list of sins the Gentile world committed against God, we find the word in KJV “covenantbreakers.” A covenant is an agreement between two parties that is regarded as a solemn vow. An underlying principle of a covenant is the Golden Rule. Jesus said in Matthew 7:12, “ Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” If I want someone to be truthful and keep up their end of the covenant with me, then I should be committed to doing the same to them.

Many today do not keep their word in the business and social realms. An agreed upon contract should be upheld by both parties. There may be some unforeseen circumstances that come up in these realms where changes must occur. Understanding and fairness should be applied while these adjustments are being made.

For years there has been an epidemic in regard to breaking marriage vows. Far too many do not regard the marriage vow as seriously as they should. Because many have long viewed marriage as a trial run, it is not uncommon for couples today to abandon the concept of marriage altogether because, for them, it has no real solemnity and commitment. Marriage is still an institution designed and ordained by God (Genesis 2:22-25; Matthew 19:1-12). He takes it just as seriously as He always has. The Lord hates the breaking of marriage covenants now just as much as He did in Malachi 2:10-17. It is not marriage that needs to change, but the people who regard marriage as frivolous who need to change

In Psalm 15:1, David asked “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” The answer is given in the following verses, detailing what caliber of people God will allow in His presence. One of the characteristics, found in Psalm 15:4, is “He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.” God’s approval is on the man who when he makes a covenant will keep it even if it costs him dearly. When one makes a covenant, particularly a marriage vow, the vow is for the rest of one’s life regardless of health problems, financial difficulties, etc.; we need more people who will swear to their own hurt.
What if someone breaks their covenant with me and refuses to make it right? If I have tried to convince them to keep their agreement to no avail, then I should follow the exhortation of Romans 12:21: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Just because people do not keep their end of an agreement, does not mean I have the right to become bitter and vengeful. We must return good for evil, even though it is a difficult practice.

When one is baptized into Christ, one is making a covenant to die to self and serve the Lord for the rest of his days (Romans 6:3-13; 7:4). Are you keeping your commitment?

-Mark Day

One hundred forty years ago, a brother named Moses Lard finished his commentary on the book of Romans. His comments on the first chapter of that epistle are particularly interesting in light of what is happening in our society today.

In regard to Romans 1:26-27, which says homosexuality is a sin which is “against nature,” Lard had to refer to practices in Paris, France to conclude, “there is little doubt of its existence in other modern cities.” He then referred to the writings of history and mentioned the disgraceful practices that were common in Greece and Rome during the time of Paul’s writing, adding, “Nor were these vices rare, and viewed as we view them” (p. 61). How different this nation was back when Lard wrote! He had to mention foreign cities and ancient practices to even give examples of homosexuality. Then he mentioned how “we,” that is the general public in this nation, view this vice. In Lard’s time, even though there were religious differences, there was a public, united front against sexual sin.

A few pages later, in reference to the sin of murder, Lard says:

This crime, according to the Bible should always be punished with death. But in our day, especially in our country, it generally brings with it only a good deal of notoriety, and not death. But we may rest assured of this, that God will one day visit on the people of this country a fearful retribution for the indulgence which they show to the crime. Take the life of him who willfully and with malice takes the life of his fellow man- do this surely, do it in all cases, and murder will cease. Fail to do this, and you breed mobs” (p. 64).

God ordered such retribution for murderers early in the Bible (Genesis 9:6). Old Testament Israel was told that murder defiled the land with blood, and only the blood of the murderer could cleanse the land (Numbers 35:33). Governmental authorities are given by God as a terror to evil works (Romans 13:1-4). Christians are to respect those that keep the peace in our society, even though they sometimes abuse their power (1 Peter 2:13-17). If Lard thought murderers had notoriety in his day, then what would he say about them today? For years, certain popular music artists have made millions while boasting about killing police officers in their lyrics. Is there any wonder that we now see so many fatal attacks on police officers? Lard’s comments on Romans were finished just a few years removed from the Civil War, an event so horrific that many Bible-believing government officials even up to the President viewed it as God’s punishment on the United States for our sins. What punishment awaits this nation today for its atrocities, especially when we consider that the Supreme Court of this nation has authorized the murder of over 57 million unborn children since 1973?

To be sure “we” have changed in this nation, but God does not change (Malachi 3:6). May God’s holy nation, the church, ever cling to His eternal truths laid out in the Bible (1 Peter 2:9; 2 Timothy 3:15-17).

-Mark Day

“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.” 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

In this section of 1 Thessalonians, Paul gives the Thessalonians some practical exhortations that will help the congregation to advance spiritually. The first order he gives involves how the members regard elders. Though the word “elder” is not used in this context, the ones described are those who fulfill the three following roles: 1) “labour among you” 2) are “over you in the Lord” and 3) “admonish you.” Other passages use this type of description of elders, likewise without giving a title. Consider Hebrews 13:7, “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.” Also, Hebrews 13:17, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” It is God’s will that each congregation of the Lord’s church have a plurality of faithful men who can function as spiritual overseers of God’s people (Acts 14:23; 20:28-32; Titus 1:5-8; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 1 Peter 5:1-4).

The first directive is that we appreciate our elders. The word in the original translated “know” in the KJV also carries the idea of knowing in order to appreciate or respect. These elders were men who diligently labored among the Thessalonians; thus, in God’s plan elders are not merely decision makers, but are, as caring shepherds, busy working among the congregation, sacrificing their time and themselves for the members. Do we appreciate the sacrifice elders make for the congregation? The Bible here commands us to “esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.”

The eldership of a local congregation also has charge over the congregation in the Lord; that is, they are responsible for giving direction to the congregation and have authority vested in them to direct the congregation according to the Lord’s word, giving correction when individuals do not act as they should. Instructions from the eldership are not to be dismissed as if they are no account, but are to be obeyed as long as it is in keeping with the Lord’s commands. The point of this passage is for members to regard their leaders for their work and make them feel that they are loved. If, as a congregation, we are good followers, it will make the work of elders go better, “that they may do it with joy, and not with grief” (Hebrews 13:17).

The final word of exhortation in 1 Thessalonians 5:13 is, “be at peace among yourselves.” If we fail to regard the leaders of the congregation in high esteem, then contention will likely follow. When critical and disrespectful attitudes prevail, the work of the church is stymied; however, when unity and good fellowship prevail then the church can accomplish great things. An effective leadership is essential to the spiritual health of a congregation, but it takes willing followers to have effective leaders. If I am trying to work for peace among the brethren, then I will hold my tongue and go to the brother with whom I disagree instead of openly criticizing everything. May each of us do everything within our power to promote peace and respect in the Flatwoods congregation.

-Mark Day